Pen casing

ABSTRACT

A pen casing includes an upper member, a middle member and a cap. The upper member has an elongated cavity of triangular cross-section extending therethrough and the middle member has a neck portion adapted to press-fit within the cavity of the upper member. The neck portion has a triangular cross-sectional shape which conforms to the shape of the cavity and includes at least one protrusion extending outwardly from its surface. The protrusion is adapted to press tightly against the inner surface of the cavity to provide a tight press-fit of the middle member within the cavity. The cap is adapted to slidably fit over the lower end of the middle member.

United States Patent [191 Koeln [111 3,729,269 1 Apr. 24,1973

[ 1 PEN CASING [75] Inventor: Harold E. Koeln, St. Louis County,

[73] Assignee: Penn Corporation, Princeton, NJ. [22] Filed: Aug. 28, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 67,940

[52] US. Cl ..40l/209, 401/198 [51] Int. Cl. .B43k 7/00 [58] Field of Search ..40l/198, 199, 209,

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,087,464 4/1963 Wittnebert et all ..401/292 3,477,792 11/1969 Shore ..401/l98 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 782,159 9/1957 Great Britain ..401/209 Italy 401/34 Netherlands ..401/209 Primary Examiner-Lawrence Charles Atl0rneyJohn D. Pope, III

[ 57] ABSTRACT A pen casing includes an upper member, a middle member and a cap. The upper member has an elongated cavity of triangular cross-section extending therethrough and the middle member has a neck portion adapted to press-fit within the cavity of the upper member. The neck portion has a triangular crosssectional shape which conforms to the shape of the cavity and includes at least one protrusion extending out- I wardly from its surface. The protrusion is adapted to press tightly against the inner surface of the cavity to provide a tight press-fit of the middle member within v the cavity. The cap is adapted to slidably fit over the lower end of the middle member.

11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures as K 70 72 7% INVENTOR HAROLD E KOELN BY MW ATTORNEY PEN CASING This invention relates to pen casings and specifically to pen casings for non-retractable pens.

Non-retractable pens usually include a barrel, a cartridge permanently mounted within the barrel and a cap adapted to slip over the writing point of the cartridge. In order to permanently fit the cartridge within the barrel, adhesives or other types of securing means are customarily used.

This invention includes a non-retractable pen casing which provides means for press-fitting the cartridge within the barrel so that adhesives or other securing means are not needed.

Among the several objects of the present invention may be noted the provision of a pen casing including a plurality of members which can be assembled by pressfitting without the need for adhesives or other securing means; the provision of a pen casing having a polygonal cross-section forming a plurality of elongated surfaces which can be used for display advertising or other indicia; the provision of a pen casing which can be used for ball-point pens, felt-tip pens, or any other type of writing instrument; and the provision of a pen casing which is economical'to manufacture; durable in use and attractive in appearance. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

FIG. I is a partial sectional view of the pen'casing of this invention showing the cap and the upper member in section;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the middle member illustrating its use with a nylon writing tip; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the middle member illustrating its use with a ball-point writing tip.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 1

Referring to the drawings, a pen casing includes an upper member 12, a middle member 14 and a cap 16. As used herein the upper end of pen l0 refers to the uppermost portion when thepen is in writing position, and the term lower end" refers to the lower end of the pen when it is in the same position. Upper member 12 includes an upper end 18 closed by a plug 19 and an open lower end 20 which opens inwardly to an elongated cavity 22 extending longitudinally through upper member 12. Cavity 22 is triangular in cross-section as is the outer surface of upper member 12. It is also possible to construct upper member 12 and cavity 22 of other polygonal shapes which provide a plurality of flat surfaces on the outer surface of upper member 12. Such flat surfaces are particularly suitable for displaying advertising or other indicia thereon. Upper end 18 is shown in the drawings as closed by -plug 19. Two small apertures 19a are provided therein for permitting the flow of air into cavity 22 from the atmosphere.

Middle member 14 includes at its lower end a tapered nose 24 which is substantially circular at its extreme lower end and which increases in cross-section as it progresses toward its upper end. The extreme upper end of nose 24 is triangular in cross-section. Adjoining the extreme upper end of nose 24 is a flange 26 which protrudes radially outwardly from the surface of middle member 14 and which is triangular in shape. Flange 26 includes a downwardly presented face 28, an upwardly presented face 30, and a triangular peripheral edge 32. Immediately above flange 26 is a neck 34 having a triangular outer surface which conforms substantially to the shape of cavity 22. The triangular apexes of cavity 22 and neck 34 are slightly flat or rounded off rather than being sharp. Protruding radially outwardly from neck 34 and lying substantially along the triangular apexes of neck 34 are a plurality of protrusions or ribs 36. The size of neck 34 is such that it will fit snugly within cavity 22 in the absence of ribs 36, but with ribs 36 thereon the fit is extremely tight to insure that neck 34 will be permanently secured within cavity 22 once it is force fitted therein. Ribs 36 press against the apexes of cavity 22 to provide this forced fit. Ribs 36 are constructed of a somewhat elastic material such as plastic or rubber so that they will yieldably distort when neck 34 is forced into cavity 22. Neck 34 tapers radially inwardly at its upper end and merges into a cylindrical tube 38 which extends upwardly therefrom.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, middle member 14 includes a bore 40 which extends longitudinally therethrough. The lower end of bore 40 includes a minor bore 42 and the upper end of bore 40 includes a major bore 44 of somewhat larger diameter than minor bore 42. Minor bore 42 and major bore 44 are divided by an upwardly presented annular shoulder 46 which is on the interior of bore 40 intermediate its ends. Protruding within the uppermost end of major bore 44 is a plug 47 which includes an annular rim 48' adapted to engage the uppermost end of tube 38 so as to prevent the sliding movement of plug 47 beyond a predetermined point within major bore 44.

Middle member 14 is adapted to hold various types of writing points and the cartridges associated therewith. Referring to FIG. 4, middle member 14 is shown adapted for use with a nylon writing tip 50. While tip 50 is constructed of nylon, other materials may also be used. This type of pen is generally referred to as a felt-tip pen regardless of the specific material used in the tip. Nylon tip 50 is forcibly fitted through an aperture in an adapter 52. Adapter 52 includes a head 54 which forms an upwardly presented flange 56 abutting against the lower end of tapered nose 24. Adapter 52 also includes a shank 58 which is pressfitted within minor bore 42 of middle member 14. Slidably fitted within major bore 44 is a reservoir cylinder 60 having a cylindrical skin 62 which is open at its opposite ends and which surrounds a filling 64 made of cellulose or other absorptive material. Filling 64 is permeated with ink. Writing tip 50 extends through an aperture in adapter 52 and protrudes into the material of filling 64 so that it will absorb ink from filling 64 in wick-like fashion.

Referring to FIG. 5, middle member 14 is shown adapted for use with a ball-point writing tip. An adapter 66 includes a head 68, an upwardly presented flange 7,0

78 at its lower end. Point 78 houses a ball bearing 80 of 5 conventional ball-point pen construction. A downwardly presented shoulder 82 separates reservoir 76 and point 78. Shoulder 82 abuts against an upwardly presented shoulder 84 provided in a longitudinal bore 86 extending through adapter 66. Adapter 66 is permanently secured to cartridge 74 by means of peening at points 88.

Cap 16 has an outer surface which is triangular in cross-section and includes at its extreme lower end a reduced cross-sectional portion 90. Cap 16 includes a cap cavity 92 which is triangular in cross-section and which has an open end at the upper end of cap 16. The

shape and size of cavity 92 is such that it conforms to the cross-sectional size and shape of nose 24 immediately adjacent flange 26. Thus cap 16 will slidably fit over nose 24 and snugly but releasably abut against face 28 of flange 26. Lower end of upper member 12 abuts against face 30 of flange 26 so that flange 26 is embraced between cap 16 and upper member 12. The outer surfaces of upper member 12 and cap 16 are identical in cross-section and likewise the outer peripheral edge 32 of flange 26 has a triangular shape which conforms to the outer surfaces of upper member 12 and cap 16. Thus when fully assembled with cap 16 thereon, pen casing 10 has a smooth continuous outer surface formed by peripheral edge 32 of flange 26 and the outer surfaces of upper member 12 and cap 16. The drawings illustrate pen casing 10 to be of triangular cross-section, and while this configuration is preferred, the cross-sectional shape could also be of other polygonal configuration.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A pen comprising writing tip means, adaptor collar means affixed to said writing tip means adjacent one end thereof, a retention member having a standard size opening at one end for accomodating insertion of said adaptor collar means, said adaptor collar means being formed with an internal adaptor opening sized to receive said writing tip means, the internal adaptor opening of said adaptor collar means corresponding to the cross-section of said writi'ng tip means such that writing tip means of different cross-section matched with adaptor collar means of corresponding adaptor openings form a substantially inseparable unit, said adaptor collar means having an outer peripheral body portion of uniform size engageable with the standard size opening of said retention member such that insertion of said adaptor collar means and said writing tip means in said retention member forms an integral assembly, said pen further including barrel means for supporting said retention member, said barrel means having a arrel opening at one end for accomodating insertion of said retention member as an extension of said barrel means, said barrel means and said retention member being of a single predetermined size and shape, said retention member being capable of accomodating insertion of said writing tip means selected from the group of a ball-point writing tip having an ink cartridge extending from said writing tip through the adaptor opening of said adaptor collar means, the internal adaptor opening of said adaptor collar means fixedly embracing a portion of said ink cartridge adjacent said writing tip, and an adaptor collar means with a fibrous writing tip extending through the adaptor'opening in said adaptor collar means, said adaptor collar means fixedly embracing a portion of said fibrous tip.

2. A pen as claimed in claim 1 wherein said retention member includes an ink cartridge for supplying ink to said fibrous writing tip, said tip extending into said ink cartridge to draw ink therefrom by absorption.

3. A pen as claimed in claim 1 wherein said barrel opening forms an elongated cavity of polygonal crosssection and said retention member includes an elongated insertion portion having a periphery of corresponding polygonal cross-section engageable with said barrel opening.

4. A pen as claimed in claim 3 wherein the surface of one of said polygonal cross-sections include resilient protrusions arranged to deform against the other said polygonal cross-sectional surface to form a press-fitting relationship between said barrel and said retention member.

5. A pen as claimed in claim 4 wherein said polygonal cross-sections are substantially triangular and said protrusions are provided on an apex of one of said triangular cross-sections.

6. A pen as claimed in claim 5 wherein said protrusions are provided at the apex of the elongated insertion portion of said retention member.

7. A pen as claimed in claim 1 wherein said retention member includes an abutment portion around the periphery thereof to limit the insertion of said retention member in said barrel.

8. A pen as claimed in claim 7 wherein said abutment portion is an annular flange projecting away from the periphery of said retention member, said flange having a stop surface facing the open end of said barrel.

9. A pen as claimed in claim 8 further including a cover piece for said writing tip, said piece formed to be press-fitted onto said retention member in opposite disposition to said barrel.

10. A pen as claimed in claim 9 wherein said annular flange includes a second stop surface facing said cover piece to limit insertion of said retention member in said cover piece.

11. A pen as claimed in claim 10 wherein said annular flange and said cover piece form a continuation of the peripheral surface of said barrel member. 

1. A pen comprising writing tip means, adaptor collar means affixed to said writing tip means adjacent one end thereof, a retention member having a standard size opening at one end for accomodating insertion of said adaptor collar means, said adaptor collar means being formed with an internal adaptor opening sized to receive said writing tip means, the internal adaptor opening of said adaptor collar means corresponding to the cross-section of said writing tip means such that writing tip means of different cross-section matched with adaptor collar means of corresponding adaptor openings form a substantially inseparable unit, said adaptor collar means having an outer peripheral body portion of uniform size engageable with the standard size opening of said retention member such that insertion of said adaptor collar means and said writing tip means in said retention member forms an integral assembly, said pen further including barrel means for supporting said retention member, said barrel means having a barrel opening at one end for accomodating insertion of said retention member as an extension of said barrel means, said barrel means and said retention member being of a single predetermined size and shape, said retention member being capable of accomodating insertion of said writing tip means selected from the group of a ball-point writing tip having an ink cartridge extending from said writing tip through the adaptor opening of said adaptor collar means, the internal adaptor opening of said adaptor collar means fixedly embracing a portion of said ink cartridge adjacent said writing tip, and an adaptor collar means with a fibrous writing tip extending through the adaptor opening in said adaptor collar means, said adaptor collar means fixedly embracing a portion of said fibrous tip.
 2. A pen as claimed in claim 1 wherein said retention member includes an ink cartridge foR supplying ink to said fibrous writing tip, said tip extending into said ink cartridge to draw ink therefrom by absorption.
 3. A pen as claimed in claim 1 wherein said barrel opening forms an elongated cavity of polygonal cross-section and said retention member includes an elongated insertion portion having a periphery of corresponding polygonal cross-section engageable with said barrel opening.
 4. A pen as claimed in claim 3 wherein the surface of one of said polygonal cross-sections include resilient protrusions arranged to deform against the other said polygonal cross-sectional surface to form a press-fitting relationship between said barrel and said retention member.
 5. A pen as claimed in claim 4 wherein said polygonal cross-sections are substantially triangular and said protrusions are provided on an apex of one of said triangular cross-sections.
 6. A pen as claimed in claim 5 wherein said protrusions are provided at the apex of the elongated insertion portion of said retention member.
 7. A pen as claimed in claim 1 wherein said retention member includes an abutment portion around the periphery thereof to limit the insertion of said retention member in said barrel.
 8. A pen as claimed in claim 7 wherein said abutment portion is an annular flange projecting away from the periphery of said retention member, said flange having a stop surface facing the open end of said barrel.
 9. A pen as claimed in claim 8 further including a cover piece for said writing tip, said piece formed to be press-fitted onto said retention member in opposite disposition to said barrel.
 10. A pen as claimed in claim 9 wherein said annular flange includes a second stop surface facing said cover piece to limit insertion of said retention member in said cover piece.
 11. A pen as claimed in claim 10 wherein said annular flange and said cover piece form a continuation of the peripheral surface of said barrel member. 